The Value of Church

Every year my school cancels classes for 3 days to send out students (volunteer basis but most of the school does it) to different churches all over California. Last year I had such an amazing experience and met some AMAZING people who became my good friends. The thing that stuck out to me was going to the beach where we had the opportunity/intent to share the message of the gospel and it was one of the best things I have ever done. I remember being so pumped that when I went home I wanted to take my youth group to OSU and make them share the gospel :) Anyway it was such a great experience! Just to reflect here are some pictures:

Anyways, I was skeptical of this year cause I didn't know anyone well on my team (I didn't last year either . . . hello briana stop your excuses and get out of your comfort zone)

Oh My Word!

This year was just as good! I went to a small church of around 50-60 people (including kids). This was a small church that really showed what a church should be. Since it was so small, they couldn't hire anyone to do the maintenance and cleaning so it was totally dependent on the body to come together and help out. Women would come midweek after work to clean and men would open and get things ready before the service on sundays. The people were so sweet and genuine, you pretty much have to be genuine at a small church like that which I liked, no frauds or fakes. The women loved on us, the men took an interest in our lives. They cooked for us and just delved into our lives and made us feel so comfortable! We got there on Wednesday and made it in time for Bible study where they asked us to share our testimonies. It was so encouraging to hear my peers share theres and good just to hear mine out loud again. The people were so loving and encouraged as well as encouraging. Then we headed to grandma Carole's (the girls of the group). If you have ever seen a grandma in a story book, she was the one! She had the perfect grandma antique filled house and was such a loving, hugging person. It was so fun to go to her house and just sit and talk with the girls and her, share memories and just laugh. Then we headed up to our rooms to find a balcony on the roof where we sat out for awhile watching the stars and a lightning storm. We had the best view! It was so beautiful.

In the morning we woke up to it raining so we cleaned the inside of the church, did shopping for the interior of their book store, made a family tree and that was pretty much it. That night a man from the church donated money for us to go out to eat so we all headed to the farmers market in Pismo and just walked the street looking at the different booths and then went wherever we wanted to eat. A group, including myself, we to eat at the habit which was delicious and I had the opportunity to get to know the pastor and his wife. Such good conversation!

Our group continued on from there to Jamba juice where after getting our goofy picture taken, someone accidentally knocked over a drink and it went everywhere ;) It was SOOOOOO funny!  Poor guys was embarrassed but the ladies nicely made him another drink for free ha ha good times. From there we continued on to Barnes and Noble were we played hide-and-go-seek. It was SOOO fun and people were laughing at us as they watched. Let me paint a picture in your head, an Egyptian counting loudly to ten even though we told him to be quite (yeah right), 4 college students running around hiding behind book shelves . . .yeah it was just funny. Soon it was time to head back to our meeting spot and return home.

Friday we did a lot of the same stuff except we ended up pulling grass for 3hrs that was tilled up. It took what felt like forever but I can't complain!!! After we washed up we headed to Erik and Angel's home (pastor and wife) to eat dinner where we then proceeded to a place called Boomers. Get this, the church PAID for us to go mini golfing and go karting! Oh my word, spoiled or what! It was AMAZING! I had never gone go karting before so the first time was nerve wracking but then the second time I road with Shawn who drives like a mad man and it was so fun and hilarious that the next go around I didn't take my foot off the gas at all :) I took Annelise with me on the next one and it was hilarious trying to pass people and getting the most hilarious look from Mark who would simply not let us pass, we eventually did :P Oh man, good memories. Golfing was hilarious and it was fun just getting to know those people.

Saturday we did a lot of finishing up work which included painting with chalkboard paint, me writing on frames and them being hung up, the leaves placed on the tree and so on. That took a lot of the day which was totally fine. We got done around 4ish maybe. Later that night we went and ate at a seafood place by the beach called Splash. That was fun to sit in a long row at a booth with all 11 of us (a friend of Shawn's had joined for the day). It was funny, the waitress calls your name but she does two orders at once, which i did not know. Pretty soon I hear "Hannah or Briana" and I was thinking, how do you get that mixed up but then went i went up i realized she had two bowls of chowder and it made sense. Since then John has given me the name "Hannah or Briana" We walked out to go to the beach and there was a window that we passed and in it he yelled "HANNAH OR BRIANA" it was hilarious and awful at the same time :)

From there we headed to the peer where we just talked and looked at the water and the stars. From there we headed to an icecream shop where Monster's Inc. was playing and there were 11 college students' eyes glued to the screen. Then it cut out for information for the shop and we were all disappointed. We knew we had to have looked hilarious. It came back on with tons of it skipped and then a couple, probably high-school aged walked in and looked at us like serious? So then we walked out and headed back home :)

Sunday was church were we introduced ourselves, had a great message from Erik and then got to talk to the people while they were so loving and appreciative. They are some of the most loving, comfortable people ever. There they provided lunch for us where we were able to eat as a group one last time and then we got pictures, prayed and said goodbye. So hard to leave, i didn't want to. Then we headed the 4hrs back to Master's which was a good car ride with conversation.

Once I get pictures I will put them up but I am waiting for them at the present. Hopefully soon, i'm so anxious!!! The pictures give a better story, I am just in a hurry and need to go to church but there are other things I want to write about too so I don't want to get too behind :) What a blessing that week was, something I will cherish forever.

What is your place in your church? Please please get invested and involved! It is so important! Don't make it a thing to check off your list. Enjoy going! That may mean switch churches where you are able to grow and learn. Remember, the church is made up of believers so you don't have to settle for milk. . . that is what I am learning. Well, speaking of church I'm off to my church which I love so much! Great expositional teaching. Always walk away refreshed! Have a blessed Lord's day!